Genomic blot hybridization as a tool of phylogenetic analysis: Evolutionary divergence in the genusDrosophila

Abstract
Comparative, quantitative Southern analysis of genomic DNA, using single-copy sequence probes, potentially is valuable for phylogenetic analysis. We have examined 27Drosophila species, belonging to two subgenera, seven species groups, and ten subgroups, using a variety of cloned and characterized probes: twelve cloned sequences fromD. melanogaster, two fromD. pseudoobscura, and two fromD. grimshawi. The data are generally congruent with accepted phylogenetic relationships inDrosophila, and confirm or clarify some previously uncertain relationships. The potential and limitations of the method are discussed.